HI-LAND VIEWS Winter 2016-2017

Editors: Larry Haskell and Tony Hopkins

Bruce Trail Day 2016 Day 2016: all Sunshine and Greenery Nevertheless, the day was, in the end, splendidly Well, not quite fully green, but on Bruce trail Day this bright and warm, the hot dogs were juicy, the pumpkin year – Oct 2nd – the fall colouring, thanks to almost cake with real butter icing was still delicious. endless warm weather, except for the cloudy Also, we were still able to introduce about 100 park- threatening morning on the day, was not far advanced, goers to the trail, and to escort some groups and and perhaps this contributed to a lighter-than-usual individuals through the park, gently recruiting turnout for the Dufferin festivities at Mono Cliffs members all the way. And we sold some t-shirts. Park. page 2

Trail Tech Boyne Valley Outdoor School to be Reactivated On Bruce Trail day, children bang away at a boardwalk with hammers and nails. Some of us can’t remember They sold some of the land to us, but could not find a using anything but a battery-powered screwdriver on a buyer for the rest. Consequently, the Toronto District bridge. School Board has decided to put the old Boyne River Outdoor Education Centre back on the list of active Some old bridges were planks between banks. Dufferin schools. has 25 - 35 - 40 foot bridges with stringers the size of telephone poles. According to the Board’s Capital Budget Plan, “this site offers an unmatched natural learning environment and We once cut grass with a line trimmer or a gas exceptional range for culturally enriched programming lawnmower. Now we have a monster two-wheeled opportunities that will comprehensively address the weed whacker called, with good reason, a Bearcat. objectives of the Board’s Aboriginal Education Strategy Once, a newsletter might have one black and white to increase knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal experiences, values and cultures among all TDSB photograph. Electronic newsletters have all the pictures students and staff.” in colour. Blazing once needed paint, brush and template. Now No timetable or date for reactivation of the facility has we use aluminum with baked-on enamel, a hammer and yet been made available. nails. Tony Hopkins

Dufferin Hi-Land display at Bruce Trail Annual General Meeting Hike Director’s Report

The new “Side-to-Side” Series of hikes will include all of the side trails in the Dufferin Hi-Land section. In this newsletter check out the first 3 hikes, which are scheduled for April 9, 23 and 30.

These will cover the side trails in and around Mono Cliffs Park with Splitrock Narrows as an added feature. Mono Cliffs Park offers many significant geological and biological resources including cliffs, outliers, caves, kettle lakes and more.

On the first hike, you will walk along Jacob's Ladder, a natural cleft in the rock where rare ferns cling to the cool dark rock. On the second hike, you will picnic at McCarston’s Lake, a kettle lake left behind by retreating glaciers.

On the third hike, you will climb to a lookout where on a clear day you can see the CN Tower beyond the beauty of the mixed forests below. Splitrock Narrows, north of Mono Cliffs Park is an added feature of this hike. You will see rocky outliers, steep cliffs, long views, a glacial spillway, and an impressive crevice system along the brow.

These hikes will appeal to new hikers looking for challenges, families, teens, school groups, amateur geologists, camera buffs…and you! For more info, see out website dufferinbrucetrailclub.org or contact Karen Franchitti [email protected] 705-890-2954 or Margery Cruise [email protected] 519-217- 5414.

Returning in 2017 is our Winter Badge series. This series includes 4 hikes, 2 day time and 2 under the full moon. Hopefully we will be on snowshoes enjoying the beauty of the woods and hills of Dufferin County, basking i